Following the roll call and Pledge of Allegiance, the February 6th meeting of the Fullerton City Council opened with an invocation read by the school-aged daughter of presiding Mayor Pro Tem Greg Sebourn. The content of this invocation was a simple reading of the Lord’s Prayer, familiar to anyone with even a modicum of experience with Christianity:

Thy will be done in Earth, As it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive them that trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom, The power, and the glory,

For ever and ever.

Amen.”

Not thirty seconds later, City Attorney Richard Jones, reported that in closed session the Fullerton City Council had voted 4-0 (Mayor Chaffee not present) to file an amicus brief on behalf of the City of Fullerton to support “the defendant” in a legal case brought by the Catholic Worker. For those who haven’t been following recent local news, “the defendant” is the County of Orange, sued by the Santa Ana based non-profit Catholic Worker to stop forced evictions of homeless people living along the Santa Ana River Trail. Fullerton was not named in the lawsuit.

The Catholic Worker’s case asserts that the homeless people were being forced from their makeshift campsites with nowhere else to go, and no services available to them. One couldn’t help but be struck by the stark contradiction between the invocation and the council’s actions. If sectarian religions invocations are to be offered on behalf of the public, then perhaps the City Council should listen to them instead of choosing to stand with the heartless. And if the invocation doesn’t please you, take heart. Precedence has now been set for anyone—not just recognized religious clergy—to offer a sectarian invocation before a council meeting, so feel free to contact city hall to find out when you can present one of your own from your religion (or not?) of choice.

I was ragging on the council for piously bowing their heads while The Lord’s Prayer was read, right after they had voted in closed session to go out of their way to offer a legal opinion that it was ok for the county to evict homeless people who had no where else to go. Just seems hypocritical to me.

I have heard reports from county officials and the media that the campers were offered shelter and services. If those reports are true, then your post is incorrect – the campers do have a place to go and they should be forced to accept help or leave.

Right, Ryan Johnson, people do not wan to live in temporary shelters. Emergency shelters are not designed for long term.

That is why the Catholic Worker and other parties challenging the County’s callous clearing of the poor from the river bank to be pushed back to city streets where they will be crimilaized by, again, callous city ordinances that empower police to issue citations for sleeping/living/camping in public are ultimately trying to get the BOS to get off of their ASSes and use our tax dollars that they get back from the state to house people do actually, finally HOUSE people and not whareHOUSE them.

It is not the federal state or county or cities responsibility to house able bodied people. You have no right for other peoples money to pay for your housing food utilities etc.. If people want to do it that is on them. Bring them into your home and you provide for them do not expect everyone else to do it. A high percentage of these people are able bodied but they want handouts and tough if the dont want to be in a shelter. Go do something about it.I have family leaving like this. We have brought them into our home with conditions they look for work and help out around the house. My sister and 2 adult children. They take advantage the lie around do nothing do not look for work for weeks then they disrespect us, No more. who ever wrote this story trying to make people feel bad. The bible also says those who wont work dont eat.